Prince William – Losing War With The Press.

Over the last week a number of highly esteemed media outlets have been giving Prince William a lesson in humility. In a series of long overdue articles the “Fourth Estate” has called into question both his work ethics and his commitment to Royal duty.

I’m not sure that Prince William understands how the Fourth Estate works. Just so as you know the term “Fourth Estate” (or fourth power) is a societal or political force whose influence is not officially recognised. The term was first used back in 1787 when, during a parliamentary debate Thomas Carlyle told the house;

“There are Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters’ Gallery yonder, there sits a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.”

For the avoidance of doubt and for the sake of clarity “more important than they all” means – don’t upset the press. Clearly Prince William does not understand that.

Here’s why.

Back in 2012 Prince William decided to sue Closer Magazine after they published unflattering pictures of his wife Kate. He didn’t care what the fourth estate or the British people thought. Then last year he petitioned for and had granted a no-fly zone over Anmer Hall in order to stop the paparazzi from taking pictures of his family from their fleet of helicopters.

And no, lets say nothing about the cost to the public purse of renovating Anmer Hall and that private apartment of his in Kensington Palace.

Prince William’s disdain for the press is well-known. Nowadays any news coverage regarding his “Royal highness” is given an appropriate response by his ruthlessly controlled spin machine. Essentially that means ‘his people’ threaten the press with all kinds of unpleasantries.

But guess what? That’s right, the 4th and the British public alike have had just about enough of William and his bullying. So that’s why, with the help of a few courage building amphetamines the Sun newspaper decided to serve Prince William a helping of divine justice. Fleet Street style.

In an article published last week the Sun accused William of a dereliction of duty, his Royal duty to be precise. The Sun claimed that Willie had onlyworked 12 shifts as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglia Air Ambulance service since January 1. They detailed all his royal engagements which they then compared to those of his fellow royals. They then asked why William had only managed two royal engagements in 2016 while his fellow Royals had completed many more.

Such was the vehemence of the article it was broadcast across social media and beyond. But it wasn’t over yet.

The Sun then published another article in which they asked why Prince William spend the weekend shooting animals the day before launching a campaign to stop wildlife being slaughtered.

And in another article published this week the Sun seemed incredulous to learn that a former girlfriend, Rose Farquhar had to seek his royal permission before appearing on the BBC talent show, The Voice.

The Sun could say that William was an astronaut or a baker of magic pies and I’d now believe them. I guess he’ll be off to sub-Saharan Africa next where he’ll be fighting poachers or whatever tasks can be achieved by telling his butler to make them happen.

I don’t mind that they’re throwing shit at William, he’s never looked like a servant of important causes to me. But y’know England’s Prince’s were much cooler back in the old days when they their job description didn’t go beyond ‘vanquishing the French and befouling their women’.